1. ACU Library borrows from other libraries and institutions

ACU Library recognises that it cannot meet every need from its own collection. Specialist research needs may be met through ACU’s participation in national and international resource sharing/interlibrary loan programs. Materials you request via interlibrary loan are usually supplied to you free-of-charge. In some cases, costs may be passed on to the requester.

The Library at its discretion may choose to purchase a resource rather than to borrow it. The item may be added to the Library’s collection if appropriate.

In borrowing items from other libraries and institutions, ACU Library complies with relevant aspects of Australian copyright law and our contractual obligations with information suppliers.

1.1 Eligibility

The following members of the ACU community are eligible for library mediated interlibrary loan and document delivery services:

Continuing academic staff - for the purposes of teaching and research

Other academic staff - to support the duties they are employed to undertake e.g. develop or teach a unit

Professional staff - for purposes related to their university positions

Higher Degree Research students

Postgraduate degree students

Honours students

Anyone with any overdue items or outstanding fines of $10 or more is not eligible.

ACU Library does not provide interlibrary loan services to support the information needs of ACU staff who are enrolled as students in other institutions. In these instances, the staff member should approach their enrolled institution’s library for assistance.

your ILL request has been closed by the Library because it has purchased the item rather than borrowing it.

the item has been sent to you to keep and there is no need to return it to the lending library (e.g. copy of a journal article).

1.4 Level of service provided

ACU Library normally uses the standard (Core) service level when requesting interlibrary loans. Requests for urgently required material may be made at a higher service level (Rush) at the discretion of the Library, and potentially at the cost of the requester.

1.5 Types of materials available through interlibrary loan and document delivery

Titles held in ACU Library’s physical or electronic collection will not be obtained on interlibrary loan.

Where a choice is available, the Library determines the supplier and format of a loan item.

ACU Library commonly sources the following types of resources but service is dependent on the non-ACU lending library:

Books

Journal articles

Book chapters

Conference papers

Audiovisual resources

Theses**

**You can often find a thesis online. Theses are becoming readily available as open access via the degree-granting institutions’ digital repository or other dissertation sites. A request for a thesis will be treated either as a purchase for the collection or as a request for a personal copy at the Library’s discretion. All queries for a thesis purchase will need to be assessed for availability and/or attached conditions.

1.6 Responsibility for payment

Where the ACU Library is responsible for payment of charges associated with interlibrary loans, charges will be met from the Library's Collection Development budget.

The costs of library-mediated interlibrary loans and library-mediated use of document supply services are borne by the Library EXCEPT in the following circumstances:

the item requested is for a program or research that receives special funding.

the item requested is for a program or research which has received special funding from within or outside ACU, the Library will charge all associated costs to the relevant (non-library) fund.

a non-library staff member or student initiates a request with a supplier and directly receives a loan or document. The requester, not the Library is responsible for any associated costs, although Library staff may assist by informing clients about the range of document supply services available and educating them in how these can be accessed.

1.7 Further assistance for ACU staff and students

Requests for copies of ACU-owned theses can be arranged conditions apply.

2. ACU Library lends to other libraries and institutions

In its interlending and document delivery services ACU Library operates in accordance with the Australian Interlibrary Resource Sharing (ILRS) Code (2014). The Code specifies principles for sharing resources, defines levels of service (including turnaround time and delivery mode) and recommends prices for supply and delivery.

In supplying items to requesting libraries ACU undertakes to provide service levels up to Rush level, as specified in the service level standards of the ILRS Code.

When supplying interlibrary loans, ACU Library charges the current ILRS recommended prices for both supply and delivery, except where an interlibrary loan or resource-sharing agreement has been established.

2.2 Charges for Australian libraries

$33.00 for copies (plus $4.00 per additional 50 pages or part thereof)

2.3 Charges for overseas libraries

A$25.00 for copies or 1 IFLA voucher

A$45.00 for loans or 3 IFLA vouchers

Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery of physical items

2.4 Requests for theses by requesting libraries

ACU Research theses can usually be accessed via Research Bank, ACU’s research repository.

If you cannot find the thesis on Research Bank, the Library may be able to arrange alternate access but as this will be considered a purchase, conditions and charges may apply. Please email your purchase query to LibILL.Requesting@acu.edu.au.